Difficulty Level: ABSN vs NP school

You should have access to Alumni of the program you applied to. Use them. They are your best resource on pitfalls and risks. I have a feeling you'll have some long days and sacrifices, but you will crush it.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of applying to NP school, but my anxiety goes through the roof when I hear about how difficult it can be even going to school part time while continuing to work full time (I work at an outpatient clinic with five 8-hour shifts per week. Before becoming an RN I went through a 14 month ABSN program. I was just curious if anyone who has done both can offer some insight into how the two compare in difficulty level and in time commitments. I know they're two very different things, but knowing I made it through ABSN in decent shape (3.5 GPA, though I will note I did get a C+ in critical care), I'm hoping I can gain confidence that I CAN do this!!

Your biggest problem will be that you work 8 hour days. Every nurse I know who went back to NP school worked 3 x 12 h shifts while going to school and many had to take some vacation days for clinicals.

I did an ABSN program then did an MSN NP program. Personally, I thought the ABSN was harder. I think it will be very hard to do an MSN while working full time because the MSN requires a lot of time consuming assignments like research papers and group projects. I would advise you to cut back your work hours.

Thank you all for your advice!

Your biggest problem will be that you work 8 hour days. Every nurse I know who went back to NP school worked 3 x 12 h shifts while going to school and many had to take some vacation days for clinicals.

Hi, thanks for your input! Luckily, my program will have 1.5 years of evening and/or online classes followed by 1 year of just clinicals M-F. My plan is to work that first 1.5 years then completely stop working the last year. I do anticipate needing to use some vacation days for extra studying.

I did an ABSN program then did an MSN NP program. Personally, I thought the ABSN was harder. I think it will be very hard to do an MSN while working full time because the MSN requires a lot of time consuming assignments like research papers and group projects. I would advise you to cut back your work hours.

Hi, thanks for the advice. Definitely understand that it will be difficult to balance 40 hours of work with school assignments. I will consider reducing my work hours!

You should have access to Alumni of the program you applied to. Use them. They are your best resource on pitfalls and risks. I have a feeling you'll have some long days and sacrifices, but you will crush it.

I've spoken to one alumni but I plan on reaching out to a few more. Thank you for your reply, your comment made me smile!

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of applying to NP school, but my anxiety goes through the roof when I hear about how difficult it can be even going to school part time while continuing to work full time (I work at an outpatient clinic with five 8-hour shifts per week. Before becoming an RN I went through a 14 month ABSN program. I was just curious if anyone who has done both can offer some insight into how the two compare in difficulty level and in time commitments. I know they're two very different things, but knowing I made it through ABSN in decent shape (3.5 GPA, though I will note I did get a C+ in critical care), I'm hoping I can gain confidence that I CAN do this!!

Typically, accelerated programs are harder. Look at your RN license. You have to learn EVERYTHING that a traditional BSN program teaches over a 4 year period in only 1, and you got through it. ADN programs fit somewhere in the middle of those 2.

Now, NP programs, on the other hand, are designed to be a graduate program. They're designed around a limited amount of time to complete them. They're going to be way more efficient than your ABSN was. The content will definitely be harder, but it's planned around the timeframe.

Then remember that almost every NP out there got it while actively working as an RN. Working adults typically don't have the option of quitting work to go to school. They all did it, so can you.

But I would definitely look into a 3x12 hour shift job. working 5 days a week makes it very difficult to work around school. If you're only working 3 days, you can make 2 of them weekends and then typically have a very easy time scheduling around school.

My ABSN was more demanding and time consuming. It was full time didactic with concurrent full time clinical. Most NP programs are less than part-time. Mine was 1-2 classes a quarter. Not even a close comparison. I actually did clinical full time in my NP program. It made it more demanding, sure, but when I graduated I didn't have any of the problems so many people on this forum complain about. I hit the ground like it was nothing.

NP classes aren't hard. I work part-time and am halfway through a part-time NP program. In the first semester I took 3 classes, and then 2 classes in the next two semesters. It is an in-person program so I have to physically show up. There is some busy work but if you did well in your BSN, you'll be ok. The past couple semesters have been fluff courses, so I had time to add on a couple texts and an online neuroscience course on the side.

My program's clinical year is pretty much full time regardless of whether the student was admitted full or part time on the outset. 1 full day in class, at least 2-3 days per week at clinical sites for minimum required hours. At that point I'll probably only work 1 weekend shift/week because I want to pick up as many clinical hours as possible, and really delve into the NP role.

At that point I'll probably only work 1 weekend shift/week because I want to pick up as many clinical hours as possible, and really delve into the NP role.

Nice. I always strongly encourage students to do this. Put your all into it. Learn as much as possible. If you don't enjoy clinical - if it's a chore for you - you're not going to like being an NP. I throw my students in. Go see the patient, report to me with your plan and suggested treatments, write the note, and we'll review it. But I make them stuuuuuudy. Extra.

The timeline of an ABSN program is just insane! As an NP student, I can tell you it is not as "difficult" as undergrad was for me, but that's because you already kinda speak the language. In NP school you're learning a new role and information needed to complete that new role to the best of your ability (advanced pharmacology, clinical practice guidelines, advanced skills and assessments, etc). The difficulty is finding enough time in the week to work full time, take 3 classes, and complete 16-20 hours of clinical. But since you completed an ABSN program you probably have excellent time management skills that will certainly help you in NP school.